Nearly £30 million of government cash has been approved to pave the way for one of the biggest-ever housing developments in East Lancashire.

The grant from Homes England’s Brownfield Infrastructure Land Fund, worth around £29.6m, will be invested in infrastructure such as roads and utilities in and around the Huncoat Garden Village development.

The proposed £100m-plus development, which will bring back into use the former Huncoat Power Station and the former colliery site, could see the building of more than 1,800 new homes over the next 15 years.

Plans include affordable homes, a local centre, highway improvements including a new road, additional school provision, new sports pitches and play areas, cycle and pedestrian routes, plus new and enhanced formal and informal open spaces.

READ MORE: Hyndburn council reviews housing scheme after £30m award

As well as new housing, the Garden Village includes plans for a new small village centre, meeting community needs, an extension to the local primary school, a new residential relief road, and increased car parking provision at Huncoat train station.

National Highways had initially objected to the plans, saying that capacity at Junction 8 of the M65 was already at its peak without the addition of the new homes close by.

However, that objection has now been removed after it was granted around £3m to work on upgrading the junction to cope with the added volume of traffic.

Hyndburn Council’s Cabinet approved the steps to accept the award and sign the funding agreement at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (October 30).

Councillor Munsif Dad, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “After careful consideration of information, listening to the many opinions about the project and receiving professional advice, the council is now able to move forward with this project.

“Since we took control of the council in May this year, Huncoat Garden Village has been at the very top of our agenda and we have had many meetings on the matter with local and national politicians, council officers, planners, representatives from Homes England and residents.

“We established a Cabinet Working Group in order to fully scrutinise the project, and they have concluded the offer of funding should be accepted.

 “The new Government have set ambitious house building targets for Hyndburn and large-scale projects such as this will help the council achieve these. £30m of investment in infrastructure for Hyndburn is good news.

“We are happy to accept this award from Homes England, who we have invited to meet with us in Hyndburn next month, and look forward to delivering the groundwork to provide many new homes.”

Councillor Melissa Fisher, deputy leader and portfolio holder for housing and communities, added: “Improving housing standards and access to affordable housing in Hyndburn is one of my top priorities.

"Huncoat Garden Village will deliver over 1,800 new homes, including affordable homes and social housing, over the coming years.

“This £30m grant will significantly improve the infrastructure of the former power station and colliery site including road access, unlocking over £430m in private investment to build homes.

“I’m happy that the project includes a village centre, an extension to the local school and over 24 hectares of open space.

READ MORE: Major Huncoat Garden Village grant decision expected soon

 “As promised, the council’s Cabinet has thoroughly reviewed the project via our working group and we are now pleased to be able to accept this award.”

The council’s former interim leader, Peter Britcliffe, told a council meeting back in March that securing the £30m investment “would be huge for Hyndburn” and said it addressed the complaint of a lack of relevant infrastructure.

He said: “New housing need not be a bad thing, providing housing for our young people and young families is vital so our area can prosper.”